Godliness with Contentment

Queen Esther - great financial advice

Esther had a chance to get up to half of the kingdom and she chose to save her people instead. Who was giving her financial advice? Who indeed? Great advice! Money and riches and wealth can be for many people something to go after or die trying. For Esther, the rescuing of people's lives was more important. This can sound like a no-brainer, but there are some who choose the money instead. I believe that as a Christian, my wealth journey needs to be guided by God and his Word. I cannot do things against God and expect to win. In my dealings, I need to be fair and not do anything illegal. I must have integrity as I work and offer services or sell products. We must choose right, based on God.

Hezekiah - Give glory to God

King Hezekiah knew what to do when trouble came. He went to God in prayer. He also saw God move in amazing ways. The Assyrians were defeated, and God gives him fifteen more years when a terminal illness threatened his life. But, we also will see from the Scriptures that when the envoys from Babylon came he showed them everything. I believe that the missing piece is that he did not give the glory to God. Our call is to trust in God and go to him in trouble as Hezekiah did, but also to give God the glory when he delivers.

Proverbs 31 - the wife of noble character

This wife of noble character is worth far more than rubies. She is a benefit to her husband and children and no doubt the community. She is a hard worker and provider with a head for business. She gets up early and stays up late burning the lamp at both ends. She takes care of the poor and needy whenever she can and prepares for winter when it isn't. What a woman!

Solomon - prioritize wisdom over wealth

In a dream, God puts it to Solomon to ask for whatever he wanted. An interesting thing is that he knew it was God he was talking with. That means he could have asked for anything. It is not like your parent or friend saying ask for anything for your birthday. This is God saying whatever you want you will get it. Solomon chose wisdom. What would you have chosen?
God gives wisdom to you when you ask. Not just knowledge, but understanding how to apply the knowledge. Armed with wisdom, there is nothing you cannot do.

David - sacrificial giver

David had an opportunity to get away scot-free without spending a dime but instead wants to sacrifice for God. Trust me when I tell you that I love free things just as much as the next guy, but there comes a time when each of us needs to put our hands in our pockets and contribute to God's work getting done. And here David shows that it isn't just contributing but sacrificing.

Jabez - breaking the mold

'Jabez' sounds like the Hebrew for pain. His mother associated him with pain. Imagine growing up labeled as one who causes pain. He may have been picked on. He may have had an issue finding a girlfriend/wife. No one typically wants to hang around with someone who causes pain. This is the backdrop of Jabez' life.At some point, he cries out to God. It was like there was a curse on him and he wanted to break free from it.He went to the right place.He asks God to bless him in the following:-enlarging his territory (real estate)-for God to be with him-for God's protection-to be free from painThe man who presumably caused pain wanted to be free from pain. I don’t know about you but so do I. He realizes that the way to break the curse was to go to God. The super great thing, is that God granted him the things he prayed for.

Joseph - dreamer and doer

Joseph was not just a dreamer, but he had a plan. Sometimes this is where we fall down. We have countless dreams, but not many plans. In fact I challenge you to come up with a plan for your dream(s). Put them on paper and see if they are plausible. Are they profitable? If it looks profitable then figure out the best way to make them happen. I am not a dream killer, so don’t call me that. Put some meat on your dreams is all I am saying. And pray!

Jacob - Don’t wanna be a trickster no more

Jacob tricks his brother out of his birthright and his father out of the blessing of the firstborn. He then flees to his mother's brother Laban another trickster. Quite a bit happens to Jacob including him becoming very wealthy while in Paddan Aram. He eventually leaves making a truce with Laban. One night he wrestles with a man who is able to injure him with just a touch. Jacob holds on for dear life. He encounters one he cannot deceive and asks for a blessing instead. His name is changed to Israel.

Isaac - recipient of the inheritance

Isaac was the child of the promise. Through his descendants, all people on earth would be blessed. Last week we looked at Abraham, and how God had blessed him abundantly. Today we turn to Isaac his son. We will see that Isaac received an inheritance which is biblical, but did not become lazy. He was not afraid of hard work. God blessed him in his travels and in his agricultural endeavors. Men saw the blessings of God on Isaac's life and some were envious and tried to mess things up for him, but they could not overcome Isaac because God was with him.

Abraham - blessings upon blessings

There is so much to talk about when we think about Abraham. I will try to focus on a few things. This means that I will miss out a lot of aspects you would think I should include. As I think about wealthy people in the Bible, I think that one big reason they got to be wealthy because God blessed them. That is how they got wealthy. In Abraham's case that is very clear. We will read a few verses from chapters 12-14 as we discuss God's blessings and Abraham's gratitude.